PHOTO COURTESY YONHAP NEWS AGENCY 

SEOUL – At least 15 people were injured on Thursday when two South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight air-to-surface bombs outside a designated training range during live-fire drills, causing casualties and extensive property damage, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Accidental Bombing in Pocheon

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. in a village in Pocheon, approximately 40 kilometers north of Seoul. Among the injured were two soldiers and two foreign nationals. A local church and seven other buildings suffered significant damage, officials confirmed.

Fire authorities reported that two civilian men sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries to their face and shoulder and were taken to a hospital for treatment. Eight others with minor injuries were also hospitalized. Officials expect the number of injuries to rise as more residents seek medical assistance.

Following the incident, approximately 50 residents from the affected area evacuated to a town hall for safety.

Military Acknowledges Mistake, Launches Investigation

Military officials stated that the KF-16 jets were participating in a live-fire exercise when they "abnormally" released four MK-82 bombs each outside the designated training zone at 10:04 a.m. The Air Force has initiated an investigation, led by Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Park Ki-wan, to determine the cause of the accident.

In an official statement, the Air Force expressed regret over the incident. “We deeply regret the civilian damage caused by the abnormal release of bombs and wish for the swift recovery of those injured,” the statement read. “We will take all necessary measures, including compensation for the damage.”

This marks the first accidental bombing by South Korean fighter jets that has resulted in casualties. A similar incident occurred in 2004 when an Air Force F-5B mistakenly released a practice bomb over Boryeong, 138 kilometers south of Seoul, but no injuries were reported at the time.

Joint Military Drills Near North Korea

The accidental bombing took place on the same day South Korea and the United States conducted joint live-fire drills near the inter-Korean border. The exercises, held at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon—just 25 kilometers south of the border—were intended to demonstrate military firepower in response to ongoing tensions with North Korea.

According to the Army, more than 160 pieces of military hardware were mobilized for the exercise, including K2 tanks, K55A1 self-propelled howitzers, Apache attack helicopters, and F-35A stealth jets.

Authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage and are working to provide relief to those affected.